Cole reiterates his commitment to West Ham United

The 28-year-old has
been at Upton Park since the summer of 2006, and he has gone on to make 187
league appearances for the London club. However, he is in the final year of his
contract with the club, and he faces a fight to earn a place in Sam Allardyce’s
starting eleven due to the summer loan arrival of Liverpool striker Andy
Carroll.

Despite this
competition Cole is more than up for the battle, and he is also hoping to
persuade his employers to offer him a new deal. Indeed, given the choice, the
England international, won the last of his seven caps back in 2010, is hoping
to pen a new agreement which would allow him to finish his career with the
Hammers.

"I
don't want to leave," Cole told The Sun. "I've told the board that I
want to stay for the rest of my career. I want to stay and help out the club
anyway I can. Because Andy Carroll is here, it doesn't mean I am going to go.
I've never been one to lie down.

“I
see it as good competition having him here. It will be good for the club and
for me because it makes me up my game and set my goals higher. By the end of
the season you will see a different me and a different team as we'll be working
well together."

Although
Cole was on the bench for the weekend win over Southampton, he has actually
started five of their eight games in the Premier League this season and has
made two further appearances as a substitute. This compares favourably to
Carroll, who has three and one to his name respectively.